02/08/2025
To immigrants affected by the recent and ongoing mass layoffs: here are some suggested resources for your next move.
Recently, more than 7,000 tech employees have been laid off, with Microsoft, Salesforce, and Meta on the list. Google has also announced potential layoffs. PERM process and pathways to employment-based green cards for many have been put on hold by big corporate employers due to layoffs. A survey by the World Economic Forum mentioned that about 40% of companies worldwide expect to reduce their workforce due to AI in the next five years.
At least 10-20% of these layoffs likely has affected immigrants on work visas and continue to affect many others. We get calls every day asking what the options are. For many, losing a job isn’t just about salary, it means having to uproot the family and kids, disrupt a stable way of life, and leave the country within 60 days or by the expirationtion date on I-94 whichever is earlier.
Here are key resources to help navigate this tough time:
✅ Your 8+ options to stay in the U.S.:
• Ask your employer for FMLA and keep you on payroll if approved
• Move to an H-4 visa if married to an H-1B holder, especially with an approved I-140 allowing for multiple 3-year extensions beyond the 6-year limit
• Switch to a B-2 visitor visa to buy time while job hunting
• Go back to school on an F-1 visa for a program that may prepare you for fields that are in demand and booming or obtain more advanced degrees like PhD for researchers
• Apply for a “compelling circumstances” EAD if qualified
• Apply for an O-1 visa through a traditional agent or your own business /agency if you qualify based on achievements
• Start your own business and self-petition for an H-1B - subject to lottery unless you have already been counted toward the cap
• Explore an E-1 or E-2 visa if you are a national of E-1/E-2 treaty country investing in a U.S. business or engaging in international trade
• Explore EB-5 visa - green card through investing in job-creating ventures, either directly in your own business or through a regional center project - this option is especially useful for nationals from backlogged countries who wish to explore a direct path to a green card
✅ Consider the path of entrepreneurship:
If you’ve been thinking about starting your own business on H-1B or O-1 visa, now might be the time.
Here are 7 VC firms that specifically invest in immigrant founders:
• Born Global Ventures
• Unshackled Ventures
• One Way Ventures
• AI2 Incubator
• MARL Accelerator
• Day One Ventures
• 500 Global
✅ Consider industries that are in demand and booming:
The demand for talent is shifting, and these industries are actively hiring:
1. AI & Automation
2. Cybersecurity
3. Healthcare / Biotech
4. Semiconductors & Advanced Manufacturing
5. Defense & Aerospace Tech
6. B2B SaaS & Enterprise Tech
Finally, if you do choose to leave the U.S., make sure your employer covers the cost of your relocation - they’re legally required to for some visa holders.
🙏 Please share this to help immigrants navigating layoffs!
📩 Contact us today to strategize your approach and take the next step in your immigration journey!
🌐 www.ibrlaw.com
📧 [email protected]
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